Ventilation device

ABSTRACT

A ventilation device performs ventilation by supplying outdoor air indoors as supply air and exhausting room air outdoors as exhaust air. The ventilation device includes a heat exchange unit provided with a heat exchange element that performs heat exchange between the supply air and the exhaust air and a humidification unit provided with a humidification element that humidifies the supply air. The heat exchange unit is provided with a supply air blower with which the outdoor air is suctioned and sent to the humidification unit and a supply air delivery port with which supply air sent from the supply air blower is delivered and guided to the humidification unit. The humidification unit is provided with a supply air introduction port that introduces supply air delivered from the heat exchange unit, and a supply air duct that regulates spreading of supply air introduced from the supply air introduction port.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a ventilation device that performsventilation by supplying outdoor air indoors as supply air andexhausting room air outdoors as exhaust air.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1 below, a ventilationdevice (humidity control device) with a configuration divided in thelength direction has been known. The ventilation device includes a fanunit and a heat exchange unit (humidity control unit) that are separablefrom each other. The fan unit houses a supply fan and an exhaust fan ascomponents necessary for ventilation, an electrical component necessaryfor electric control of the entire ventilation device, and the like. Theheat exchange unit that is a plumbing unit houses a heat exchangeelement and a humidification element as components necessary forhumidity control and heat exchange and the like. The fan unit and theheat exchange unit are connected to each other by connecting meansarranged at an outer circumference section of a connecting section.

In the case of a configuration in which a ventilation device is dividedinto a plurality of units as described above, reduction in size andreduction in weight of the respective units are possible, and handlingis easy. Therefore, each unit can be carried to an installing locationeasily even with one worker. Moreover, in the case where installationwork of each unit is performed within a narrow space with low heightsuch as an attic, it is possible to perform work of, for example,suspending and installing each unit in the attic easily and safely.

In the ventilation device divided into the fan unit housing the supplyfan, the exhaust fan, and the like and the heat exchange unit housingthe heat exchange element, the humidification element, and the like asdisclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to ensure airtightnessof the connecting section so that the flow of supply air and the flow ofexhaust air at the connecting section of the two units are not hindered.Therefore, there is a problem that a measure for ensuring airtightnessat the connecting section becomes necessary to complicate the structure.

For the ventilation device, there are a type that requires ahumidification function and a type that does not. Depending on thepresence or absence of the humidification function, the flow of supplyair and exhaust air within the heat exchange unit is changedsignificantly. Therefore, it is also necessary to change thespecification of the fan unit connected to the heat exchange unit to adifferent one, depending on the type. Thus, for the fan unit forming theventilation device, it is necessary to prepare each of a type of fanunit to be connected to the heat exchange unit including a humidifierand a type of fan unit to be connected to the heat exchange unit withouta humidifier. Therefore, even in the case of a configuration in whichthe ventilation device is divided into a plurality of units, thespecification of the respective units cannot be made common, and it isdifficult to improve the productivity of the ventilation device.

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.    2000-274765

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to effectively improve theproductivity of a ventilation device while favorably maintaining theflow of supply air and the flow of exhaust air at a connecting sectionfor respective units.

A ventilation device according to one aspect of the present invention isa ventilation device that performs ventilation by supplying outdoor airindoors as supply air and exhausting room air outdoors as exhaust air,including a heat exchange unit provided with a heat exchange elementthat performs heat exchange between the supply air and the exhaust airand a humidification unit provided with a humidification element thathumidifies the supply air. The heat exchange unit is provided with: asupply air blower with which the outdoor air is suctioned and sent tothe humidification unit; and a supply air delivery port with whichsupply air sent from the supply air blower is delivered and guided tothe humidification unit. The humidification unit is provided with: asupply air introduction port that introduces supply air delivered fromthe heat exchange unit; and a supply air duct that regulates spreadingof supply air introduced from the supply air introduction port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting one embodiment of a ventilationdevice according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ventilation device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ventilation device.

FIG. 4A is a front view of a supply air guide, FIG. 4B is a side view ofthe supply air guide, and FIG. 4C is a plan view of the supply airguide.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the installed state of a supply airblower provided to the ventilation device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the specific configuration of ahumidification unit.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the specific configuration of asealing member.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the installed state of a water supplypipe.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the specific configuration of a drain pan.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view in a position along line X-X in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view in a position along line XI-XI in FIG. 9.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be describedbelow in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show one embodiment of a ventilation device accordingto the present invention. A ventilation device 1 according to thisembodiment is installed at a ceiling or the like and includes a totalheat exchange-type heat exchange unit 2 and a constant humiditymembrane-type humidification unit 3. The ventilation device 1 includesan outdoor air inlet port 4 at which outdoor air OA is suctioned, asupply air outlet port 5 at which the outdoor air OA is blown out to theindoor side as supply air SA, a room air inlet port 6 at which room airRA is suctioned, and an exhaust air outlet port 7 at which the room airRA is blown out to the outdoor side as exhaust air EA. To the outdoorair inlet port 4, the supply air outlet port 5, the room air inlet port6, and the exhaust air outlet port 7, a duct joint 8 connected to aceiling pipe or the like not shown in the drawing is attached.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchange unit 2 and the humidification unit3 are coupled integrally by a coupling member formed of L-shaped metalfittings 9 and 10 fastened to each other with a fastening bolt. At bothleft and right side surface sections of the ventilation device 1, ametal suspension fitting 11 (see FIG. 1) formed of a standard componentor the like is attached. The metal suspension fitting 11 is locked to asuspension bolt (not shown) hung from the ceiling. Accordingly, theventilation device 1 is suspended from a ceiling section in a statewhere the heat exchange unit 2 and the humidification unit 3 arecoupled.

The heat exchange unit 2 has a function of exchanging heat between theoutdoor air OA suctioned from the outdoor air inlet port 4 and the roomair RA suctioned from the room air inlet port 6. The heat exchange unit2 includes a body case 12, a heat exchange element 13 for total heatexchange, a supply air blower 14, and an exhaust air blower 15 as maincomponents.

The body case 12 of the heat exchange unit 2 is formed of a hollowbox-shaped body having a flat cuboid shape. At a front plate 16 of thebody case 12, i.e., a wall surface section on the near side to thehumidification unit 3, a supply air delivery port 17 and an exhaust airintroduction port 18 are formed. At a back plate 19 of the body case 12,i.e., a wall surface section on the far side from the humidificationunit 3, the outdoor air inlet port 4 and the exhaust air outlet port 7are formed. The internal space of the body case 12 is partitioned by apartition plate omitted in the drawing into a supply air flow path 20for flow from the outdoor air inlet port 4 to the supply air deliveryport 17 and an exhaust air flow path 21 for flow from the exhaust airintroduction port 18 to the exhaust air outlet port 7.

At both left and right side plates 22 and 23 of the body case 12,attachment holes 24 for the metal suspension fitting 11 and attachmentholes 25 for the L-shaped metal fitting 9 are formed. That is, in theside plates 22 and 23 of the body case 12, the attachment holes 24formed of screw holes into which fastening bolts for the metalsuspension fitting 11 are screwed are formed in a position near the backplate 19. In the side plates 22 and 23 of the body case 12, theattachment hole 25 s formed of screw holes into which fastening boltsfor the L-shaped metal fitting 9 forming the coupling member are screwedare formed in a position near the front plate 16.

The heat exchange element 13 is arranged between the front plate 16 andthe back plate 19 of the body case 12 to be parallel thereto with apredetermined interval in between them. When the outdoor air OA and theroom air RA introduced into the body case 12 passes through the heatexchange element 13, total heat exchange is performed between theoutdoor air OA and the room air RA at that time.

The supply air blower 14 is provided between the front plate 16 of thebody case 12 and the heat exchange element 13. A discharge port of thesupply air blower 14 is connected to the supply air delivery port 17formed at the front plate 16 of the body case 12. By the supply airblower 14 being in an activated state, a flow of air from the outdoorair inlet port 4 toward the supply air delivery port 17 is generated inthe supply air flow path 20 within the body case 12. Specifically, theoutdoor air OA is drawn into the body case 12 from the outdoor air inletport 4 in response to the suction force of the supply air blower 14.Accordingly, the outdoor air OA is supplied to the heat exchange element13 for total heat exchange with the room air RA. Then, the outdoor airOA is supplied as the supply air SA into the humidification unit 3 fromthe supply air delivery port 17.

The exhaust air blower 15 is provided between the back plate 19 of thebody case 12 and the heat exchange element 13. A discharge port of theexhaust air blower 15 is connected to the exhaust air outlet port 7formed at the back plate 19 of the body case 12. When the exhaust airblower 15 is in an activated state, a flow of air from the exhaust airintroduction port 18 toward the exhaust air outlet port 7 is generatedin the exhaust air flow path 21 within the body case 12. Specifically,in response to the suction force of the exhaust air blower 15, the roomair RA is taken into the humidification unit 3 from the room air inletport 6 and taken into the body case 12 via the exhaust air introductionport 18. After the room air RA is supplied to the heat exchange element13 for total heat exchange with the outdoor air OA, the room air RA isexhausted as the exhaust air EA outside the body case 12 from theexhaust air outlet port 7.

In FIG. 2, an electrical component box 26 housing an electricalcomponent for the heat exchange unit 2 is attached to the side plate 22located on the near side in the drawing of the body case 12. The supplyair delivery port 17 of the body case 12 is provided with a guide 27that guides the supply air SA discharged from an outlet port of thesupply air blower 14 toward a humidification element 31 provided to thehumidification unit 3.

As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C and FIG. 5, the guide 27 includes a legsection 28 including an arc-shaped surface 28 a along the lower surfaceof an outlet section of the supply air blower 14 and a guide section 29protruded forward from an upper section of the front surface of the legsection 28. The guide 27 is formed of foamed polystyrene material or thelike. The upper surface of the guide section 29 is formed as an inclinedsurface 29 a sloped downward to the front, and the bottom surface of theguide section 29 is formed as an arc-shaped curved surface 29 b.

The leg section 28 of the guide 27 is provided within the body case 12and is attached to the front plate 16 in a state where the arc-shapedsurface 28 a is along the lower surface of the outlet section of thesupply air blower 14. That is, in other words, the arc-shaped surface 28a forms a part of a casing of the supply air blower 14. The guidesection 29 is attached to the front plate 16 in a state where the curvedsurface 29 b is along the inner surface at a lower section of the supplyair delivery port 17. A lower-side section of the supply air deliveryport 17 is covered by the guide section 29 of the guide 27, and theguide section 29 is installed to the body case 12 in a state of beingprotruded outside the body case 12 and inserted into a supply air duct46 described later. In this state, the bottom surface (curved surface 29b) of the guide section 29 is arranged along the inner surface of a ductbody 47 described later of the supply air duct 46. Thus, the bottomsurface (curved surface 29 b) of the guide section 29 is in contact withthe inner surface of the duct body 47. Accordingly, the supply air SAsent from the supply air blower 14 is guided to the humidificationelement 31 described later along the inclined surface 29 a of the guidesection 29.

The humidification unit 3 has a function of humidifying the supply airSA sent from the supply air blower 14 and includes, as main components,a housing case 30 formed of a hollow box-shaped body having a cuboidshape, the humidification element 31 housed within the housing case 30,a plumbing component formed of a water supply and drainage mechanism 32or the like that is provided on the downstream side in the supply airflow direction with respect to the humidification element 31 andperforms water supply and drainage with respect to the humidificationelement 31, and a drain pan 33 provided below the humidification element31 and the water supply and drainage mechanism 32, as shown in FIG. 2,FIG. 6, and the like.

At a front plate (wall surface on the far side from the heat exchangeunit 2) 34 of the housing case 30, the supply air outlet port 5 and theroom air inlet port 6 are formed. At a back plate (wall surface on thenear side to the heat exchange unit 2) 35 of the housing case 30, asupply air introduction port 36 that introduces the supply air SAdelivered from the supply air delivery port 17 of the heat exchange unit2 and an exhaust air delivery port 37 that delivers the room air RAtoward the exhaust air introduction port 18 of the heat exchange unit 2are formed.

At both left and right side plates 38 and 39 of the housing case 30,attachment holes 41 for the metal suspension fitting 11 and attachmentholes 42 for the L-shaped metal fitting 10 are each formed. That is, inthe side plates 38 and 39 of the body case 30, the attachment holes 41formed of screw holes into which fastening bolts for the metalsuspension fitting 11 are screwed are formed in a position near thefront plate 34. In the side plates 38 and 39 of the body case 30, theattachment holes 42 formed of screw holes into which fastening bolts forthe L-shaped metal fitting 10 forming the coupling member are screwedare formed in a position near the back plate 35.

In FIG. 6, an electrical component box 44 housing an electricalcomponent for the humidification unit 3 is installed at the side plate38 located on the near side in the drawing of the housing case 30.Further, in FIG. 6, a sealing member 43 that seals a coupling sectionfor the heat exchange unit 2 and the humidification unit 3 in anairtight manner to prevent leakage of air from the coupling section isfixed on the outer surface side (heat exchange unit 2 side) of the backplate 35. The sealing member 43 is provided to encompass a connectingsection for the supply air delivery port 17 of the heat exchange unit 2and the supply air introduction port 36 of the humidification unit 3.Another sealing member 43 is provided to encompass a connecting sectionfor the exhaust air introduction port 18 of the heat exchange unit 2 andthe exhaust air delivery port 37 of the humidification unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 7, the sealing member 43 is formed in a square plateshape having a predetermined thickness by a material having moderateelasticity and airtightness formed of polyethylene resin foam or thelike. In a middle section of the sealing member 43, a circular vent hole43 a corresponding to the supply air introduction port 36 and theexhaust air delivery port 37 is fat med. In a state where the vent hole43 a of the sealing member 43 and the supply air introduction port 36and the exhaust air delivery port 37 of the housing case 30 are aligned,a pair of left and right sealing members 43 are attached to the backplate 35 of the housing case 30. In this state, the body case 12 of theheat exchange unit 2 and the housing case 30 of the humidification unit3 are coupled to each other by the coupling member. The outercircumference of the connecting section for the supply air delivery port17 and the supply air introduction port 36 of the humidification unit 3is sealed with the sealing member 43. The outer circumference of theconnecting section for the exhaust air introduction port 18 and theexhaust air delivery port 37 of the humidification unit 3 is also sealedwith the sealing member 43. Accordingly, airtightness at the couplingsection for the two cases 12 and 30 is ensured.

On the inner surface side of the back plate 35, the supply air duct 46that regulates spreading of the supply air SA introduced via the supplyair introduction port 36 is provided. That is, the supply air duct 46 isarranged within the humidification unit 3. As shown in FIG. 5, thesupply air duct 46 includes the duct body 47 formed in a taperedcylindrical shape and a flange section 48 provided at a base section ofthe duct body 47. The flange section 48 is overlapped on the innersurface of the back plate 35 of the humidification unit 3 and screwedand fixed to the back plate 35. The supply air SA sent from the supplyair blower 14 of the heat exchange unit 2 is regulated by the duct body47 of the supply air duct 46 in the flowing direction and blown in aconcentrated manner to the humidification element 31.

Within the housing case 30, a partition plate 49 is installed (see FIG.6). The partition plate 49 partitions the internal space of the housingcase 30 into a supply air flow space in which the supply air SA flowsand an exhaust air flow space in which the room air RA flows. In thesupply air flow space within the housing case 30, the humidificationelement 31 and the water supply and drainage mechanism 32 are arranged.The water supply and drainage mechanism 32 includes a water supply tank50 that stores moisture supplied to the humidification element 31, awater supply pipe 51 that supplies tap water to the water supply tank50, a water supply solenoid valve 52 provided to the water supply pipe51, a level switch 53 provided to the water supply tank 50, anintroduction pipe 54 that delivers tap water supplied into the watersupply tank 50 to the humidification element 31, a drain pipe 55 thatexhausts moisture within the humidification element 31 externallyaccording to necessity, and a drain solenoid valve 56 and a float switch57 which are provided to the drain pipe 55.

As shown in FIG. 8, the water supply pipe 51 is provided with a housingsection 59 for a strainer 58 that filters impurities within supplywater. The housing section 59 for the strainer 58 is protrudeddiagonally to the back side toward the humidification element 31 and themiddle side of the housing case 30 from the water supply pipe 51 inplanar view. At a tip section of the strainer housing section 59, afixing bolt 61 rotated by a tool 60 such as a wrench is screwed.

At the side plate 39 of the housing case 30, an opening section 62 formaintenance having a size that allows the humidification element 31 tobe taken out is formed. At the side plate 39, a cover 63 that covers theopening section 62 is screwed and fixed. In a state where the cover 63is removed, a tip section of the tool 60 can be inserted into thehousing case 30 from the opening section 62. By rotating the fixing bolt61 to release the fixed state, the strainer 58 can be taken out from thehousing section 59. That is, the fixing bolt 61 and the housing section59 are arranged in a position such that the strainer 58 can be removedthrough the opening section 62 using the tool 60.

The e humidification element 31 is configured such that a waterretention layer that stores moisture supplied from the water supply anddrainage mechanism 32 is encapsulated in a bag body formed of a moisturepermeable membrane. The humidification element 31 is provided betweenthe front plate 34 and the back plate 35 of the housing case 30 andinstalled to be parallel thereto with a predetermined interval inbetween them. The supply air SA is humidified by moisture stored in thewater retention layer of the humidification element 31.

As shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the drain pan 33 is formed into a flatdish shape provided between the side plate 38 of the housing case 30 andthe partition plate 49. The drain pan 33 includes a bottom wall 64 thatcovers the lower surface of an installing section for the humidificationelement 31 and the water supply and drainage mechanism 32, anupstream-side circumferential wall 65 located on the upstream side inthe supply air flow direction within the housing case 30, adownstream-side circumferential wall 66 located on the downstream sidein the supply air flow direction, and a pair of left and right sidewalls 67 and 68 installed to couple side end sections of theupstream-side circumferential wall 65 and side end sections of thedownstream-side circumferential wall 66.

The upstream-side circumferential wall 65 of the drain pan 33 isarranged along the front surface of a lower section (lower section ofthe side surface) of the humidification element 31. That is, theupstream-side circumferential wall 65 is installed along the lowersection of the side surface of the humidification element 31 on theupstream side in the supply air flow direction and the near side to theheat exchange unit 2. The upstream-side circumferential wall 65 is incontact with the lower section of the side surface of the humidificationelement 31. In other words, the drain pan 33 is provided in a rangeexcluding a section on the upstream side in the supply air flowdirection relative to the humidification element 31 (i.e., certain rangeincluding a section in which the humidification element 31 is installedand a portion on the downstream side thereof in the supply air flowdirection). At a side wall 67 of the drain pan 33 located on the sideplate 38 side of the housing case 30, a drain exhaust section 69 forexternally exhausting drain water fallen into the drain pan 33 from thehumidification element 31 is protruded.

The bottom wall 64 of the drain pan 33 is inclined such that the uppersurface of a portion located on the side plate 38 side of the housingcase 30 is located lower compared to a portion located on the partitionplate 49 side (see FIG. 10). Accordingly, drain water fallen to the sideplate 38 side within the drain pan 33 falls to the side plate 38 sideand is exhausted externally from the drain exhaust section 69.

At the bottom wall 64 of the drain pan 33, as shown in FIG. 11, a firstswollen section 71 in which a portion on the upstream side in the supplyair flow direction and adjacent to the upstream-side circumferentialwall 65 is swollen upward and a second swollen section 72 in which aportion located on the downstream side in the supply air flow directionat a predetermined distance from the first swollen section 71 is swollenupward, are each installed to extend in the width direction of the drainpan 33 (direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the supply airSA). At one end section in the width direction of the first swollensection 71, an end swollen section 74 (see FIG. 9) is connected toextend along the side wall 67. The first swollen section 71 is formedacross the entire drain pan 33 in the width direction. The secondswollen section 72 is formed with a margin at both end sections in thedrain pan 33. Thus, the second swollen section 72 is formed with aninterval from the side walls 67 and 68. On the first and second swollensections 71 and 72 and on the end swollen section 74, a lower endsection of the humidification element 31 is placed and supported.

Between the first swollen section 71 and the second swollen section 72at the bottom wall 64 of the drain pan 33, a drain passage 73 thatguides moisture fallen below the humidification element 31 toward thedrain exhaust section 69 provided to the side wall 67 of the drain pan33 is formed.

With the configuration, the water supply solenoid valve 52 is brought toan opened state and the drain solenoid valve 56 is brought to a closedstate upon performing humidification by the humidification element 31.Accordingly, moisture supplied into the water supply tank 50 from thewater supply pipe 51 is delivered to the humidification element 31 viathe introduction pipe 54 to be stored within the humidification element31.

When a sufficient amount of moisture is stored within the humidificationelement 31 and the water level within the water supply tank 50 rises toreach an upper limit height of the level switch 53, the water supplysolenoid valve 52 is brought to a closed state to stop water supply.When the water level within the water supply tank 50 decreases andreaches a lower limit height of the level switch 53 due to thehumidification function of the humidification element 31 beingfulfilled, the water supply solenoid valve 52 is brought to an openedstate to resume water supply.

Upon stopping humidification by the humidification element 31, the watersupply solenoid valve 52 is brought to a closed state and the drainsolenoid valve 56 is brought to an opened state. Accordingly, moisturestored within the humidification element 31 is drained into the drainpan 33 via the drain pipe 55, and drain water within the drain pan 33 isdelivered outside the housing case 30 via the drain exhaust section 69.At a point when an exhaust time set to, for example, approximately 30minutes has passed, the drain solenoid valve 56 is brought to a closedstate to terminate drainage work.

The float switch 57 is configured to detect that an abnormal rise inwater level within the drain pan 33 has been caused by occurrence of afailure such as an object being jammed in the drain exhaust section 69.When an abnormality is detected by the float switch 57, the water supplysolenoid valve 52 and the drain solenoid valve 56 are brought to aclosed state so as to stop water supply and drainage, respectively.

When the ventilation device 1 in which the heat exchange unit 2 and thehumidification unit 3 are coupled to each other is attached to theceiling section or the like and the ventilation device 1 is activated inthis state, the outdoor air OA is suctioned into the heat exchange unit2 from the outdoor air inlet port 4 in response to the suction force ofthe supply air blower 14. The outdoor air OA is supplied to the heatexchange element 13 for heat exchange, and then passed through thesupply air duct 46 to be blown to the humidification element 31 withinthe humidification unit 3. The supply air SA humidified by thehumidification element 31 is blown indoors from the supply air outletport 5. The room air RA is suctioned into the heat exchange unit 2 fromthe humidification unit 3 in response to the suction force of theexhaust air blower 15 and exhausted outdoors as the exhaust air EA. Inthis manner, ventilation is performed.

In the ventilation device 1 that performs ventilation by supplying theoutdoor air OA indoors as the supply air SA and exhausting the room airRA outdoors as the exhaust air EA, as described above, the heat exchangeunit 2 provided with the heat exchange element 13 that performs heatexchange between the supply air SA and the exhaust air EA and thehumidification unit 3 provided with the humidification element 31 thathumidifies the supply air SA are provided. The heat exchange unit 2 isprovided with the supply air blower 14 with which the outdoor air OA issuctioned and sent to the humidification unit 3 and the supply airdelivery port 17 that delivers the supply air SA sent from the supplyair blower 14 to the humidification unit 3. The humidification unit 3 isprovided with the supply air introduction port 36 that introduces thesupply air SA delivered from the heat exchange unit 2 and the supply airduct 46 that regulates spreading of the supply air SA introduced fromthe supply air introduction port 36. Thus, the productivity of theventilation device 1 can be improved effectively while favorablymaintaining the flow of the supply air SA and the flow of the exhaustair EA at the connecting section for the respective units 2 and 3.

That is, in the embodiment, the supply air blower 14 and the exhaust airblower 15 forming a main section of the ventilation device 1 and theheat exchange element 13 are provided to the heat exchange unit 2, whilethe humidification element 31 is provided within the humidification unit3 formed separately from the heat exchange unit 2. Therefore, asignificant change in the structure of the heat exchange unit 2 is notnecessary for a type that requires a humidification function using thehumidification element 31 and a type that does not require thehumidification function. Thus, the specification of the heat exchangeunit 2 can be made common to effectively improve the productivity of theventilation device 1.

Moreover, whereas the flow of supply air and exhaust air within a heatexchange unit is significantly changed depending on the presence orabsence of a humidification function in a conventional technique with aconfiguration in which a heat exchange element is provided to the heatexchange unit, the specification of the heat exchange unit 2 can bechanged without a significant change in the flow of the supply air SAand the exhaust air EA within the heat exchange unit 2, in the case of aconfiguration in which the humidification element 31 is provided to thehumidification unit 3 separate from the heat exchange unit 2 as in thisembodiment. Therefore, the specification of the humidification unit 3 tobe attached to a plurality of types of the heat exchange unit 2 can bemade common. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively improve theproductivity of the ventilation device 1.

Since the humidification unit 3 is provided with the supply airintroduction port 36 that introduces the supply air SA delivered fromthe heat exchange unit 2 and the supply air duct 46 that regulatesspreading of the supply air SA introduced from the supply airintroduction port 36, the supply air SA sent from the supply air blower14 of the heat exchange unit 2 can be concentrated efficiently withrespect to the humidification element 31, regardless of the heatexchange unit 2 and the humidification unit 3 being formed separately.Thus, the humidification function of the humidification element 31 canbe improved effectively, and airtightness at the coupling section forthe heat exchange unit 2 and the humidification unit 3 can be ensuredsufficiently without hindering the fluidity of the supply air SA.

That is, instead of the above mentioned configuration, a configurationcan be such that a supply air duct for supplying the supply air SA sentfrom the supply air blower 14 of the heat exchange unit 2 with respectto the humidification element 31 in a concentrated manner is attached tothe outer surface of the body case 12 (specifically, the front plate 16)of the heat exchange unit 2. However, in the case of such aconfiguration, work of inserting the supply air duct to a supply airintroduction port formed in the humidification unit 3 to couple the twounits 2 and 3 to each other, work of sealing the coupling section forthe two units 2 and 3, and work of attaching the two units 2 and 3 tothe ceiling section have to be performed simultaneously upon performingwork of attaching and coupling the heat exchange unit 2 and thehumidification unit 3 to the ceiling section. Thus, these worksinevitably become extremely troublesome.

In contrast, in the case of the structure in which the supply air duct46 is provided to the humidification unit 3 as in this embodiment, workof inserting the supply air duct 46 to the supply air introduction port36 of the humidification unit 3 is unnecessary upon performing work ofattaching and coupling the heat exchange unit 2 and the humidificationunit 3 to the ceiling section. Therefore, work of attachment to theceiling section and work of coupling the units 2 and 3 can be performedeasily. Moreover, since the supply air duct 46 is not a hindrance uponperforming work of sealing the coupling section for the two units 2 and3, work of sealing the coupling section can be performed easily andappropriately.

In the embodiment, the configuration is such that the sealing member 43that seals the coupling section for the heat exchange unit 2 and thehumidification unit 3 is provided, and the outer circumference of theconnecting section for the supply air delivery port 17 of the heatexchange unit 2 and the supply air introduction port 36 of thehumidification unit 3 is encompassed by the sealing member 43. Thus, byattaching the sealing member 43 to the back plate 35 of thehumidification unit 3 in advance, the coupling section can be sealedeasily and appropriately with the sealing member 43 upon coupling theheat exchange unit 2 and the humidification unit 3 to each other.

In the case of the configuration in which the supply air duct isattached to the body case 12 of the heat exchange unit 2, it isnecessary to form in the vent hole 43 a of a size corresponding to thesupply air duct at the sealing member 43. However, in the case of thestructure in which the supply air duct 46 is provided to thehumidification unit 3 as in the embodiment, the size of the vent hole 43a can be set without being influenced by the supply air duct 46.Therefore, the thickness of the sealing member 43 at an outercircumference section of the vent hole 43 a can be ensured sufficientlywhile reducing the vertical dimension of the respective units 2 and 3forming the ventilation device 1. Thus, the coupling section for theheat exchange unit 2 and the humidification unit 3 can be sealed easilyand effectively by the sealing member 43.

In the embodiment, the supply air delivery port 17 of the heat exchangeunit 2 is provided with the guide 27 that guides the supply air SA sentfrom the supply air blower 14 toward the humidification element 31 ofthe humidification unit 3. Therefore, even in the case where the sizeand shape of a supply air flow section formed of the supply airintroduction port 36 provided to the humidification unit 3 and the ductbody 47 of the supply air duct 46 differ with respect to the size andshape of a supply air discharge port of the supply air blower 14, thesending direction of the supply air SA can be guided appropriately bythe guide 27 such that the supply air SA sent from the supply airdischarge port of the supply air blower 14 can be blown appropriatelytoward the humidification element 31. Thus, the efficiency ofhumidification of the supply air SA by the humidification element 31 canbe improved effectively.

Further, in the embodiment, the humidification unit 3 is provided withthe humidification element 31 that humidifies supply air, the watersupply and drainage mechanism 32 that is provided on the downstream sideof the humidification element 31 in the supply air flow direction andperforms water supply and drainage with respect to the humidificationelement 31, and the drain pan 33 provided below the water supply anddrainage mechanism 32 and the humidification element 31, and theupstream-side circumferential wall 65 located on the upstream side ofthe drain pan 33 in the supply air flow direction is installed along thefront surface of the lower section of the humidification element 31.Therefore, the flow of the supply air SA blown to the humidificationelement 31 is controlled appropriately with a simple configuration, andthe humidification capability of the humidification element 31 can beexhibited effectively.

That is, in the embodiment, the upstream-side circumferential wall 65 ofthe drain pan 33 is installed along the front surface of the lowersection of the humidification element 31, and the drain pan 33 isprovided in a range excluding a section on the upstream side in thesupply air flow direction relative to the humidification element 31.Therefore, formation of a large gap between the lower end section of thehumidification element 31 and the upstream-side circumferential wall 65of the drain pan 33 can be prevented. Thus, the supply air SA blown intothe humidification unit 3 from the supply air duct 46 can be preventedfrom entering into the drain pan 33 through a section below thehumidification element 31, without providing a separate blocking memberor the like, and occurrence of a situation where the depositioncomponent generated within the drain pan 33 is blown upward anddispersed by the supply air SA can be prevented effectively with asimple configuration. Moreover, the supply air SA can be blownefficiently to the humidification element 31 to sufficiently exhibit thehumidification capability.

Moreover, the plumbing component formed of the water supply and drainagemechanism 32 is provided on the downstream side of the humidificationelement 31 in the supply air flow direction, and the drain pan 33 isprovided in a certain range including the installing section for thehumidification element 31 and the section on the upstream side in thesupply air flow direction (i.e., range corresponding to an installingsection for the humidification element 31 and the water supply anddrainage mechanism 32). Therefore, moisture fallen from thehumidification element 31 and the water supply and drainage mechanism 32and moisture carried to the downstream side in the flow direction by thesupply air SA blown to the humidification element 31 can be receivedappropriately by the drain pan 33. Moreover, moisture carried by thesupply air SA can be effectively prevented from being dispersedexternally.

In the embodiment, the configuration is such that the bottom wall 64 ofthe drain pan 33 is provided with the first and second swollen sections71 and 72 in which a portion on the upstream side in the supply air flowdirection is swollen upward, and the lower end section of thehumidification element 31 is placed on the first and second swollensections 71 and 72. Therefore, the installed state of the humidificationelement 31 can be maintained stably, and entrance of the supply air SAinto the drain pan 33 through the section below the humidificationelement 31 can be effectively prevented also by the first swollensection 72 and the like.

In the embodiment, the drain pan 33 is provided with the first swollensection 71 adjacent to the upstream-side circumferential wall 65 and thesecond swollen section 71 located on the downstream side in the supplyair flow direction with a predetermined distance from the first swollensection 71, and the first and second swollen sections 71 and 72 arerespectively installed to extend in the width direction of the drain pan33. In the drain pan 33, the drain passage 73 with which moisture fallenbelow the humidification element 31 is guided toward the drain exhaustsection 69 is formed between the first swollen section 71 and the secondswollen section 72. Therefore, the lower end section of thehumidification element 31 can be supported more stably by the first andsecond swollen sections 71 and 72, and moisture fallen below thehumidification element 31 can be caused to flow smoothly to the side ofan installing section for the drain exhaust section 69 along the drainpassage 73 to thus be exhausted efficiently.

In the embodiment, the housing case 30 housing the humidificationelement 31 and the water supply and drainage mechanism 32 is formed withthe opening section 62 for maintenance, and the water supply anddrainage mechanism 32 is provided with the water supply pipe 51extending on and in the width direction of the drain pan 30 and thehousing section 59 for the strainer 58 that filters impurities withinmoisture supplied via the water supply pipe 51. The housing section 59is provided to protrude toward the humidification element 31 from thewater supply pipe 51. Therefore, upon cleaning the strainer 58 or thelike, the fixing bolt 61 can be rotated with the tool 60 inserted intothe housing case 30 from the opening section 62 to release the fixedstate of the fixing bolt 61. Thus, work of attaching or detaching thestrainer 58 with respect to the housing section 59 can be performedeasily.

That is, in the embodiment, the housing section 59 for the strainer 58is protruded diagonally to the back side toward the humidificationelement 31 and the middle side of the housing case 30 from the watersupply pipe 51 in planar view. Therefore, it can be such that only thetip section of the tool 60 is inserted from the opening section 62 formaintenance provided for taking out the humidification element 31, andthe fixing bolt 61 is rotated with the tool 60. Thus, work of attachingor detaching the strainer 58 can be performed extremely easily withoutthe need for troublesome work of inserting the entire tool 60 into thehousing case 30 to rotate the fixing bolt 61 in a state where thehumidification element 31 is taken out from the housing case 30.

The embodiment will be summarized.

(1) The ventilation device of the embodiment performs ventilation bysupplying outdoor air indoors as supply air and exhausting room airoutdoors as exhaust air. The ventilation device includes the heatexchange unit provided with the heat exchange element that performs heatexchange between the supply air and the exhaust air and thehumidification unit provided with the humidification element thathumidifies the supply air. The heat exchange unit is provided with: thesupply air blower with which the outdoor air is suctioned and sent tothe humidification unit; and the supply air delivery port with whichsupply air sent from the supply air blower is delivered and guided tothe humidification unit. The humidification unit is provided with; thesupply air introduction port that introduces supply air delivered fromthe heat exchange unit; and the supply air duct that regulates spreadingof supply air introduced from the supply air introduction port.

In this configuration, the supply air blower and the heat exchangeelement forming the main section of the ventilation device are providedto the heat exchange unit, while the humidification element is providedwithin the humidification unit formed separately. Therefore, asignificant change in the structure of the heat exchange unit is notnecessary for a type that requires a humidification function using thehumidification element and a type that does not require thehumidification function. Therefore, the specification of the heatexchange unit can be made common to effectively improve the productivityof the ventilation device. The specification of the heat exchange unitcan be changed without a significant change in the flow of supply airand exhaust air within the heat exchange unit. Therefore, thespecification of the humidification unit to be attached to a pluralityof types of the heat exchange unit can be made common. Accordingly, itis possible to further effectively improve the productivity of theventilation device. Since the supply air introduction port thatintroduces supply air delivered from the heat exchange unit and thesupply air duct that regulates spreading of supply air introduced fromthe supply air introduction port are provided to the humidificationunit, supply air sent from the supply air blower of the heat exchangeunit can be concentrated efficiently with respect to the humidificationunit, regardless of the heat exchange unit and the humidification unitbeing formed separately as described above. Thus, the humidificationfunction of the humidification element can be improved effectively, andairtightness at the coupling section for the heat exchange unit and thehumidification unit can be ensured sufficiently without hindering thefluidity of supply air.

(2) In the ventilation device, a sealing member by which the section forconnecting the supply air delivery port and the supply air introductionport is encompassed to implement sealing between the heat exchange unitand the humidification unit is preferably provided between the heatexchange unit and the humidification unit.

In this configuration, the sealing member that seals the couplingsection for the heat exchange unit and the humidification unit isprovided. Therefore, by attaching the sealing member to thehumidification unit in advance, sealing can be performed easily andappropriately with the sealing member between the two units uponcoupling the heat exchange unit and the humidification unit to eachother.

(3) In the ventilation device, the supply air delivery port of the heatexchange unit is preferably provided with the guide that guides supplyair sent from the supply air blower toward the humidification element ofthe humidification unit.

In this configuration, the sending direction of the supply air can beguided appropriately by the guide such that supply air sent from thesupply air discharge port of the supply air blower can be blownappropriately toward the humidification element, even in the case wherethe supply air discharge port of the supply air blower and the supplyair flow section of the supply air introduction port and the supply airduct provided to the humidification unit differ in size and shape. Thus,the efficiency of humidification of supply air by the humidificationelement can be improved effectively.

(4) In the ventilation device, the guide preferably includes a curvedbottom surface arranged along an inner circumferential surface of thesupply air delivery port and arranged along the inner surface at thesupply air flow section of the supply air duct, and an inclined uppersurface.

With this configuration, supply air sent from the supply air deliveryport of the heat exchange unit can be caused to flow reliably along theinner surface at the supply air flow section of the supply air duct.

With this embodiment, as described above, the productivity of theventilation device can be improved effectively while favorablymaintaining the flow of supply air and the flow of exhaust air at theconnecting section for the heat exchange unit and the humidificationunit forming the ventilation device.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1 Ventilation device-   2 Heat exchange unit-   3 Humidification unit-   13 Heat exchange element-   14 Supply air blower-   17 Supply air delivery port-   27 Guide-   36 Supply air introduction port-   43 Sealing member-   46 Supply air duct

1. A ventilation device that performs ventilation by supplying outdoorair indoors as supply air and exhausting room air outdoors as exhaustair, comprising: a heat exchange unit provided with a heat exchangeelement that performs heat exchange between the supply air and theexhaust air; and a humidification unit provided with a humidificationelement that humidifies the supply air, the heat exchange unit beingprovided with: a supply air blower with which the outdoor air issuctioned and sent to the humidification unit; and a supply air deliveryport with which supply air sent from the supply air blower is deliveredand guided to the humidification unit, and the humidification unit beingprovided with: a supply air introduction port that introduces supply airdelivered from the heat exchange unit; and a supply air duct thatregulates spreading of supply air introduced from the supply airintroduction port.
 2. The ventilation device according to claim 1,wherein a sealing member by which a section of connecting the supply airdelivery port and the supply air introduction port is encompassed toimplement sealing between the heat exchange unit and the humidificationunit is provided between the heat exchange unit and the humidificationunit.
 3. The ventilation device according to claim 1, wherein the supplyair delivery port of the heat exchange unit is provided with a guidethat guides supply air sent from the supply air blower toward thehumidification element of the humidification unit.
 4. The ventilationdevice according to claim 3, wherein the guide includes a curved bottomsurface arranged along an inner circumferential surface of the supplyair delivery port and arranged along an inner surface at a supply airflow section of the supply air duct, and an inclined upper surface. 5.The ventilation device according to claim 2, wherein the supply airdelivery port of the heat exchange unit is provided with a guide thatguides supply air sent from the supply air blower toward thehumidification element of the humidification unit.
 6. The ventilationdevice according to claim 5, wherein the guide includes a curved bottomsurface arranged along an inner circumferential surface of the supplyair delivery port and arranged along an inner surface at a supply airflow section of the supply air duct, and an inclined upper surface.